is it just numbers in terms of tax brackets, were specific tax proposals? guest: believe what the two are fighting over is the threshold of the tax rates -- who is wealthy? people who make over $250,000 a year, or should that number be higher, $400,000, $500,000? another big sticking point is the estate tax. this has received a preferential tax rate dating back to the bush era tax cuts. it was extended again two years ago. that is the real sticking point. it divides the senate democrats. there are a number of senate democrats up for reelection in 2014 that not want to see that tax rate rise. that is a political football here as well. host: as we are in the final hours, what is motivating congress more, public perception, the stock market's? guest: i think it is both of those things. the stock market, all of the analysts i have talked to, they built in a certain amount of time to give congress a face to work this out. increasingly, there is concern that if they do not work this out, the markets will react. particularly kagel we go over the cliff and there is